1 Samuel 28
It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to Dawud, Know this, that you and your men shall go out with me in the army. 2Dawud said to Achish, Then you shall know what your servant will do. Achish said to Dawud, Therefore I will make you my bodyguard for ever. 3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, his hometown. Talut had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Talut gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa. 5When Talut saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6When Talut inquired of Allah, Allah did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7Then Talut said to his servants, Find me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, There is a woman at En-dor who has a familiar spirit. 8Talut disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please consult a familiar spirit for me, and bring up the one I shall name to you. 9The woman said to him, Listen, you know what Talut has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, from the land: why then lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10Talut swore to her by Allah, saying, As Allah lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing. 11Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring up Samuel. 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Talut, saying, Why have you deceived me? You are Talut. 13The king said to her, Do not be afraid: what do you see? The woman said to Talut, I see a god coming up out of the earth. 14He said to her, What does it look like? She said, An old man is coming up; and he is covered with a robe. Talut perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed down with his face to the ground. 15Samuel said to Talut, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Talut answered, I am very distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may tell me what I should do. 16Samuel said, Why do you ask me, seeing Allah has departed from you, and has become your enemy? 17Allah has done to you, as he spoke by me: and Allah has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbour, even to Dawud. 18Because you did not obey the voice of Allah, and did not execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Allah has done this thing to you this day. 19Moreover Allah will deliver Israel and you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: Allah will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 20Then Talut fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was very afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all day and night. 21The woman came to Talut, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, Your servant has listened to your voice, and I have risked my life, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. 22Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way. 23But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat on the bed. 24The woman had a fattened calf in the house; and she hurried, and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it: 25and she brought it before Talut, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.